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THON 2013

THON 2013

Penn State Mont Alto sent two students and 65 plus supporters last weekend to the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately referred to as THON, at University Park. The Mont Alto THON group raised pledges totaling more than $33,000, a record for the campus.

In a game that came down to the final seconds, Penn State (8-16, 0-12 Big Ten) missed on two late opportunities to tie or take the lead and suffered a 74-72 setback to Iowa (16-9, 5-7 Big Ten) Thursday (Feb. 14) night before a raucous student crowd of 1,420 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State coach Patrick Chambers will donate $14,200 to Penn State Dance Marathon 2013, fulfilling his pledge to donate $10 for every Penn State student who attended the contest on the eve of the 46-hour THON event, which kicks off Friday.

Penn State (8-15; 0-11 Big Ten) will face Iowa (15-9; 4-7 Big Ten) on the Thursday night in the Bryce Jordan Center on the eve of Penn State Dance Marathon. Nittany Lion coach Patrick Chambers has pledged to donate $10 to THON 2013 for every Penn State student that attends the 9 p.m. tip on ESPNU. It will also be Dollar Dog Night at the Jordan Center.

Now less than one month away, Penn State's Dance Marathon (THON) will be held Feb. 15-17 at the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State's University Park campus. THON volunteers have unveiled the official 30-second video and tutorial for a new event, "Dance With Us," to help dancers worldwide get on their feet and experience the spirit, energy and atmosphere of THON Weekend while supporting the fight against pediatric cancer.

At 6:45 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, Feb. 16, participants from around the world will be able to participate in the line dance and join dancers at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center via live stream on the Facebook page. The 30-second Dance With Us line dance video has been posted to THON's official Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pennstateTHON, along with an extended video tutorial for participants to learn the lyrics and moves in advance of THON Weekend and the global Dance With Us dance party.

Penn State's "no sleeping, no sitting" IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) is not only the equivalent of two all-nighters back-to-back, but THON regulations require participants to remain on their feet for the entire 46-hour event. Many participants don't adequately prepare themselves and either do not make it to the end of the marathon or get sick after. This year, new fitness classes are being offered jointly by THON and the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) to help prepare the bodies of the students involved in THON. The class's goal is to help them be in the best health possible and to help mitigate some of the grueling effects of being on one's feet for 46 straight hours.

Penn State Dance Marathon -- known affectionately as THON and the world's largest student-run philanthropy -- kicks off THON Weekend 2013 on Friday, Feb. 15, at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center for 46 hours of consecutive dancing in support of children, families and researchers fighting pediatric cancer. Midway through the event, at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, Feb. 16, THON is inviting everyone, everywhere to take part in "Dance With Us," the first global coordinated dance for charity, to raise awareness of pediatric cancer.

A 30-second instructional line dance video will be released on THON's official Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pennstateTHON on Wednesday, Jan. 16, offering a tutorial for participants to learn the lyrics and moves in advance of THON Weekend. "We anticipate this program to inspire line dances and viewing parties for THON Weekend across the globe," said Will Martin, overall chairperson for THON. "This will allow Penn State fans and pediatric cancer fighters to feel like they are in the Bryce Jordan Center from any location."